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Mobile Miscellany: week of July 18, 2011

Brad Molen — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST

Here's some of the other stuff that happened in the wide world of wireless for the week of July 18, 2011:

Images of the Samsung Admire for MetroPCS leaked. Also known as the SCH-R720, it may be the first device with Gingerbread on the prepaid carrier. It features a 3.5-inch HVGA display, 3G, 800MHz CPU, and 3.2 megapixel camera. [via UnwiredView]
Rogers introduced the HTC EVO 3D and LG Optimus 3D to its lineup, to be available sometime this summer. (thx Luke)
Speaking of Rogers, the Samsung Galaxy S Infuse 4G should be available on the Canadian carrier within the next few days, and will reportedly be yours for $150 with a three-year commitment. [via UnwiredView]
Spy shots of an unannounced Samsung Android device with Verizon branding, and full QWERTY keyboard were dug up (see the above image). Specs include Android 2.3.4 onboard and built-in 4G LTE connectivity. (thx Fayez) [via AndroidCentral]
The Nokia N900 was hacked, allowing you to boot up your choice of four operating systems: Maemo, Meego, NITDroid, and Kubuntu Mobile. [via LoveMyNokia]
The LG Optimus 3D appears to be popping up everywhere; it's currently available on Three UK. [via AndroidCentral]
A mystery device known as the HTC Hero 4G passed DLNA certification this week, causing speculation that this is the long-evasive and much-awaited HTC Kingdom. The phone's already passed through the FCC, which means we could see it show up on Sprint at any time. [via PhoneArena and PocketNow]
The Motorola Defy+ is rumored to be a mild refresh of the Defy, a popular Android device that came out last year. The new version would get a few minor boosts in specs and come in HSPA bands compatible with AT&T. [via TIMN]

Mobile Miscellany: week of July 18, 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint outs EVO 4G and Hero updates, EVO framerate cap might be solved

Chris Ziegler — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:34:00 EST

Last time we checked in on this problem, HTC had said that the EVO 4G's 30fps cap on video output simply couldn't be increased -- but it seems the latest firmware update might prove otherwise. We've got a couple screen shots showing details of the latest upgrades for both the EVO and the Hero; in the latter case, you've just got a couple bug fixes, but the EVO's list includes a total of four: the nasty calendar issue, the 30fps fix, a reboot problem involving GPS, and multiple Gmail sync that was busted in the Froyo update. Interestingly, Sprint's official changelog only mentions the calendar and Gmail sync fixes, so it's possible they're trying to keep the other two low-key to prevent undue questions and curiosity from folks as they upgrade. What's everyone seeing out there?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Sprint outs EVO 4G and Hero updates, EVO framerate cap might be solved originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Switched On: Gluts and glory

Ross Rubin — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:30:00 EST

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

Before the mass adoption of smartphones in the U.S., many fretted that the heavy subsidization model was feeding a free handset model that would keep Americans hopelessly addicted to basic voice plans and phones optimized for them. The price consumers paid in relation to the value of the handset, it was argued, was hopelessly out of whack. This year, a string of successful smartphones have shown that an increasing percentage of U.S. consumers are willing to pay $200 for a flagship device. On the other hand, there's still ample evidence that price and value can remain disconnected. And the carriers aren't making it much easier.

The smartphone surge has been driven in part by a desire to acquire the best and by a response to carrier advertising. However, a recent run-up in advanced smartphones have made it difficult to define a clear top of the line at many carriers, and carriers simply cannot promote them all with the same attention lavished on the iPhone or original Droid. Take the turn of events at Verizon, for example, which in the space of a few months has rolled out the Droid Incredible, Droid X and Droid 2, with the Samsung Fascinate in the wings. At least the first three have been all priced at $199, with strong precedent for the Fascinate coming in at that level. And while AT&T has been a bit more diverse in the operating systems of its recent spate of high-end contenders -- the iPhone 4, BlackBerry Torch and Samsung Captivate -- they too have all been priced at $199.

Continue reading Switched On: Gluts and glory

Switched On: Gluts and glory originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint: EVO 4G users getting Android 2.2 'in the near future' (Update: No upgrade for Moment, Hero)

Joseph L. Flatley — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 11:36:00 EST

It looks like EVO 4G users will soon have one more thing to smile about, as Sprint has just announced that an Android 2.2 (aka Froyo) upgrade will indeed be coming to the "superphone."

With the Android 2.2 upgrade, customers can expect improvements to include the following benefits: updates to user interface, improved EAS Support, improved browser performance, including Flash 10x Support, voice dialing over Bluetooth and application storage on external memory.

No word on a timeframe yet, but you'll know as soon as we do -- promise.

Update: According to this tweet from the carrier: "HTC EVO will be updated to Android 2.2; Samsung Moment & HTC Hero will not. Future devices launching w/ 2.1 will be also be updated to 2.2."

Sprint: EVO 4G users getting Android 2.2 'in the near future' (Update: No upgrade for Moment, Hero) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 11:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint's HTC Hero rooted, promptly patched over-the-air

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 09:59:00 EST

Great news: the original Android 2.1 firmware for Sprint's HTC Hero was recently rooted. Bad news: Sprint and HTC were entirely too quick about fixing it, pushing out an over-the-air update this weekend that patches up the so-called "security vulnerability" without a new root yet in sight. Owners of rooted devices are naturally being advised not to pull the trigger on the new build at this time; too bad HTC couldn't have shown this kind of hustle with the 2.1 upgrade in the first place, isn't it?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Sprint's HTC Hero rooted, promptly patched over-the-air originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint's Hero finally gets official Android 2.1 upgrade

Vlad Savov — Wed, 19 May 2010 06:06:00 EST

Assuming you resisted the temptation to either root your Hero or update it with the recently leaked 2.1 firmware, this is your very first chance to finally slap a dash of Android future on your senescent device. Sprint has at long last made the update available, though it isn't quite yet ready to download from its site. Fear not, the good folks behind the yellow network have put together a guide on upgrading through your phone and we'll link up the download as soon as it's ready for consumption. Time to start enjoying that Google Maps Navigation magic and all the other goodies constituting Eclair's delectable filling.

Update: It's now available direct from HTC's website, as well as Sprint's own site. Thanks, all!

[Thanks, Jonathan]

Sprint's Hero finally gets official Android 2.1 upgrade originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 06:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android 2.1 upgrade for Sprint's HTC Hero leaks out

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 14 May 2010 20:55:00 EST

Okay, so the Moment's Android 2.1 upgrade is official -- great. But what about the Sense-powered Hero? There's no firsthand word just yet other than the promise of a Q2 release, but there is a firsthand ROM (seemingly) floating around that gives us hope we'll hear something from Hesse and crew any day now. Oh, yeah, and there is the cool part about being able to just grab the binary now and get your upgrade on without waiting, if you're as brave and impatient as we tend to be around here. Let us know how it goes, folks.

[Thanks, Divyam]

Android 2.1 upgrade for Sprint's HTC Hero leaks out originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 May 2010 20:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint: Samsung Moment and HTC Hero Android 2.1 updates now coming 'in Q2'

Darren Murph — Fri, 07 May 2010 14:54:00 EST

Ouch. Just a few days ago, it seems like a certainty that Sprint would be pushing out Android 2.1 updates to the aging Samsung Moment and HTC Hero, but now a company admin has stepped in to assure us that things aren't nearly that close to go. The full text is pasted in after the break, but the long and short of it is this: the long-awaited 2.1 update is now on track "to be available in Q2." The carrier did confess to wanting this out sooner rather than later, but hey, at least your patience is really, really appreciated.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Sprint: Samsung Moment and HTC Hero Android 2.1 updates now coming 'in Q2'

Sprint: Samsung Moment and HTC Hero Android 2.1 updates now coming 'in Q2' originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 May 2010 14:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint's HTC Hero update to Android 2.1 finally coming on May 7?

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 04 May 2010 21:33:00 EST

This is turning into a serious boy-who-cried-wolf kind of situation, but evidence is growing today that HTC and Sprint are finally -- yes, finally -- ready to drop a hot batch of Sense-laden Android 2.1 on eager Hero owners. A screen shot of a Best Buy employee news page reads that the update was "delayed until this week" and will be "in all stores" by this Friday, May 7; what that means isn't exactly clear, but it could suggest that all Heros being sold in Best Buy Mobile locations will have the update applied by then. As for current customers, Best Buy is sending out instructions on how staff can help owners upgrade if they happen to wander into the store, but otherwise, it should be available from HTC's site (yeah, no over-the-air action here). Stay tuned, folks.

[Thanks, John]

Sprint's HTC Hero update to Android 2.1 finally coming on May 7? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 21:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint's HTC Hero and Samsung Moment Android 2.1 updates on track for early May?

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:59:00 EST

Look, we're calling it: as Android goes, anything older than Eclair is officially lame sauce at this point. Manufacturers need kick things into high gear and offer upgrades for the good of their customers -- custom skin or no -- so we're glad to see that folks on Sprint might be mere weeks away from official updates for a couple of their devices. The Hero and Moment are both stuck on Cupcake for now, but we've known for a while that Android 2.1 is in the cards, and an internal screen at Sprint appears to show that we can expect the updates to launch in "early May." For what it's worth, enterprising Moment owners can already get their Eclair on -- but a more official option is always the best way to go, right?

Sprint's HTC Hero and Samsung Moment Android 2.1 updates on track for early May? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint to release Android 2.1 update for Hero and Moment 'over the coming weeks'

Richard Lai — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:27:00 EST

If you recall, about a month ago Sprint tweeted that it was working on delivering Android 2.1 upgrade for its HTC Hero and Samsung Moment in early Q2 this year. An optimistic guess would be April, right? Funnily enough, Techie Buzz has heard that two eager customers managed to squeeze a more precise date out of Sprint over a phone call -- end of March or even March 26th. Don't go reaching for that champagne just yet, though -- a self-proclaimed Sprint employee shared a recent internal memo on XDA-Developers forum, revealing that it's "actively working on having the Android 2.1 platform available to our Hero and Moment customers over the coming weeks," and that "more information coming in April." Oh Sprint, you do love playing with our little minds, don't you?

Sprint to release Android 2.1 update for Hero and Moment 'over the coming weeks' originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint: Android 2.1 update for Hero, Moment coming in early Q2

Donald Melanson — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:34:00 EST

And there you have it, folks -- word straight from Sprint that the much-anticipated Android 2.1 update will be coming to the HTC Hero and Samsung Moment "early" in the second quarter of this year. As you may recall, Sprint has actually been talking about this update since December, but "early 2Q10" is at least slightly better news than the previous "1H2010" estimate the carrier's been dishing out.

Update: Sprint has posted a follow-up tweet saying that OTA vs. PC-based or in-store upgrades are "still TBD upgrade options."

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Sprint: Android 2.1 update for Hero, Moment coming in early Q2 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC posts kernel source for Tattoo, Sprint Hero

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:40:00 EST

The terms of the GPL require that developers of Android handsets out the source code for their phones' platform kernels, something HTC, Samsung, and others have generally been good about (emphasis on "generally") -- and now HTC's gone ahead and pushed a couple more notables into the public domain. The Tattoo and the Sprint-branded version of the Hero are the latest to get their innermost software workings exposed; the Tattoo should be an interesting choice here because it's one of the lowest-end Android sets released to date, and the Sprint Hero's been taking some heat for a while now for its lack of code exposure. We're happy to see HTC stay in compliance, yes -- but really, we're even happier to know that it's now in the hands of people who intend to tear it apart and do cool stuff with it.

HTC posts kernel source for Tattoo, Sprint Hero originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint's HTC Hero and Samsung Moment on track to get Android 2.1, not 2.0

Chris Ziegler — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:29:00 EST

So Sprint's backtracking on its promise to deliver Android 2.0 to its Hero and Moment in the first half of next year, but it's backtracking in an awesome way for a change of pace -- they'll actually be getting 2.1. That makes tons of sense considering that the leaked Hero builds have all been on 2.1 and 2.0 will be all but obsolete by the time HTC gets around to releasing anything -- so yeah, we probably could've predicted this anyway, but now it's official. Unfortunately that 1H 2010 window hasn't been reigned in at all, but here's hoping this is a case where they under-promise and over-deliver.

Sprint's HTC Hero and Samsung Moment on track to get Android 2.1, not 2.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint says Android 2.0 coming to Hero and Moment first half of next year

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:10:00 EST

In the wake of Verizon's Droid Eris update announcement, Sprint couldn't very well rest on its laurels and let the world go by while its Android babies grow stale on version 1.5, could it? Indeed, the company has announced today (via Twitter, of all things) that it'll be bringing Android 2.0 to the table for its HTC Hero and Samsung Moment in the first half of 2010. Naturally, we wish they could tighten that up to the first quarter (or heck, this month, for that matter), but as far as we can tell, HTC isn't yet done prepping Sense for 2.0 so they're probably in a holding pattern there. As for the Moment, it's running stock 1.5 -- and we'd certainly expect it to run stock 2.0, too -- so we're not sure what the holdup is on Sammy's end, but you can bet we're looking forward to seeing the Google juice running in full AMOLED technicolor.

Sprint says Android 2.0 coming to Hero and Moment first half of next year originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint pulls piping hot Hero update out of the oven

Chris Ziegler — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:32:00 EST

We don't have details on exactly what has changed yet, but that minor Android 1.5-based update Sprint had announced it'd be pushing out to the Hero has now launched. The best-case scenario would have the SMS issue -- which causes the phone to stay awake when it shouldn't -- get resolved, but until Sprint hands out a proper changelog, it'll be a matter of testing and guessing. Just a thought: if they've managed to squeeze a proximity sensor into the update, that brings 'em up to the speed with the Droid Eris. Hey, it could happen.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Sprint pulls piping hot Hero update out of the oven originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint pulls piping hot Hero update out of the oven

Chris Ziegler — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:32:00 EST

Filed under: Software, HTC, Sprint, Android

Sprint pulls piping hot Hero update out of the oven originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Hero, Samsung Moment now $100 on Sprint courtesy of Best Buy

Donald Melanson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:19:00 EST

Leaning back and forth between the $100 HTC Eris on Verizon and the $179 HTC Hero on Sprint? Well, your decision just got a bit more difficult, as Best Buy has now kicked off a new holiday promotion that'll net you a chin-less Sprint Hero for the same hundred bucks as Verizon's Eris. If you prefer, you can also now snag a Samsung Moment for the same price, but each will of course have to be paired with a new two-year activation, and you'll have to take the plunge before the end of December -- although there's at least a decent chance there will be another discount / price drop by the time this one ends.

[Thanks, Daniel]

HTC Hero, Samsung Moment now $100 on Sprint courtesy of Best Buy originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Hero, Samsung Moment now $100 on Sprint courtesy of Best Buy

Donald Melanson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:19:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

HTC Hero, Samsung Moment now $100 on Sprint courtesy of Best Buy originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint prepping update for Hero, still 1.5-based

Chris Ziegler — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:49:00 EST

Looking forward to a warm, delicious Donut or Eclair to get beamed down to your Sprint Hero? Well, keep on waiting -- because there's an update in the works, but it's still going to rock the same Android 1.5-based core that you're already enjoying. It looks like users can expect a so-called maintenance release in "the next few weeks," and while a complete changelog isn't yet available, folks are being told that it'll fix DST and messaging issues. As far as we know, HTC hasn't put the finishing touches on Sense for 2.0 anyway, so we wouldn't get discouraged just yet.

[Thanks, Matt Z.]

Filed under: Software, HTC, Sprint, Android

Sprint prepping update for Hero, still 1.5-based originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Hero / Eris mega faceoff on video

Paul Miller — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:45:00 EST

Now that we've got the DROID ERIS in the mix, we're up to our ears in HTC Hero-derivative devices. We decided to sit the whole crew (GSM, Sprint and Verizon editions) down for a little modeling session, and we're finding ourselves reticent to pick a favorite. There are really plusses and minuses to each of them, but any way you lean it's a pretty good handset with some perhaps overly bulky software, a wonderful pricepoint (on Verizon, anyway) and probably a limited time in the sun with upcoming Android 2.0 devices, faster processors and wild new screens rolling on in. Check the video out after the break and you can make up your own mind.

Continue reading HTC Hero / Eris mega faceoff on video

Filed under: HTC, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, Android

HTC Hero / Eris mega faceoff on video originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Hero / Eris mega faceoff on video

Paul Miller — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:45:00 EST

Now that we've got the DROID Eris in the mix, we're up to our ears in HTC Hero-derivative devices. We decided to sit the whole crew (GSM, Sprint and Verizon editions) down for a little modeling session, and we're finding ourselves reticent to pick a favorite. There are really plusses and minuses to each of them, but any way you lean it's a pretty good handset with some perhaps overly bulky software, a wonderful pricepoint (on Verizon, anyway) and probably a limited time in the sun with upcoming Android 2.0 devices, faster processors and wild new screens rolling on in. Check the video out after the break and you can make up your own mind.

Continue reading HTC Hero / Eris mega faceoff on video

Filed under: Cellphones

HTC Hero / Eris mega faceoff on video originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Workaround for HTC Hero battery life issues discovered

Donald Melanson — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:26:00 EST

Well, there still isn't a fix for the problem some people seem to be having with receiving text messages on their HTC Hero, but it looks like a workaround has been discovered for another pesky issue that can put a strain on the phone's battery life. Apparently, the phone has a bit of trouble going back into sleep mode after you send a text, or after you simply turn on the phone and immediately disable the screen without any activity. While some fairly elaborate fixes were tried by some users initially, it looks like the simplest actually works the best: just don't use the default SMS app to send texts. Instead, you can use a third-party app like ChompSMS or HandCent, which apparently have no problems letting the phone go back to sleep after you send a text. Of course, an official fix would still be the best but, in the meantime, you can hit up the link below for all the necessary details on making the (hopefully temporary) switch.

[Thanks, Sean]

Workaround for HTC Hero battery life issues discovered originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Workaround for HTC Hero battery life issues discovered

Donald Melanson — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:26:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

Workaround for HTC Hero battery life issues discovered originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Hero having intermittent text messaging problems?

Donald Melanson — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:38:00 EST

There's not exactly much in the way of official statements on the matter just yet, but it looks like support forums have been piling up with reports of text messaging problems on the HTC Hero over the past few weeks, and with no signs of a fix in sight. Apparently, the phone can send texts just fine, but runs into a little trouble when it comes to receiving 'em, with most folks reporting only intermittent problems, and at least some not receiving any at all. Interestingly, the problem seems to be occurring in both the US and the UK, so it would seem to be a problem on the phone's end and not the carrier's, and a few people seem to have had some (brief) success after resetting the device. Of course, there are also plenty of folks having no problems at all, but there doesn't seem to be any question that the issue is out there. So, have you been missing some texts on your Hero? Let us know in comments.

Filed under: Handsets, HTC, Sprint, Android

HTC Hero having intermittent text messaging problems? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Hero having intermittent text messaging problems?

Donald Melanson — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:38:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

HTC Hero having intermittent text messaging problems? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some HTC Hero units shipping sans EV-DO Rev. A on Sprint? (update: nope!)

Darren Murph — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:09:00 EST

Ruh roh. Without claiming that there's some sort of high-speed conspiracy going on at Sprint (read: there's not), we'd like to point out that quite a few early adopters are claiming that their Hero refuses to hop on the carrier's EV-DO Rev. A network. We took a peek back at the company's press release for this very phone, and sure enough, the Rev. A experience is promised. We're guessing that a simple firmware update will be all it takes to remedy the issue (if there's truly an issue at all), but 'til then, there's always WiFi! Right, guys?

[Via Examiner, thanks Tracknod]

Update: We just heard directly from HTC about this snafu, and as it turns out, the message that Sprint Hero users are seeing is merely a mislabeling. If you're within an EV-DO Rev. A area, you'll get Rev. A speeds -- despite that fact that your phone says it's only on Rev. 0. We're also told that a future maintenance release will address the message. Check the full quote after the break.

Continue reading Some HTC Hero units shipping sans EV-DO Rev. A on Sprint? (update: nope!)

Filed under: Handsets, HTC, Sprint, EV-DO, CDMA, Android

Some HTC Hero units shipping sans EV-DO Rev. A on Sprint? (update: nope!) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some HTC Hero units shipping sans EV-DO Rev. A on Sprint? (update: nope!)

Darren Murph — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:09:00 EST

Continue reading Some HTC Hero units shipping sans EV-DO Rev. A on Sprint? (update: nope!)

Filed under: Cellphones

Some HTC Hero units shipping sans EV-DO Rev. A on Sprint? (update: nope!) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint HTC Hero now on sale to everyone

Nilay Patel — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:57:00 EST

Sure, you've been able to get it a little early in one way or another, but the Sprint HTC Hero officially launched today, which means a second US carrier is now selling an Android device. High five. Now, is anyone spending the $179 ($479 off-contract)? And Sprint customers, we have to ask: Hero or Pre?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Filed under: Handsets, HTC, Sprint, Android

Sprint HTC Hero now on sale to everyone originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint HTC Hero now on sale to everyone

Nilay Patel — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:57:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

Sprint HTC Hero now on sale to everyone originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint HTC Hero available today to Best Buy Reward Zone members

Paul Miller — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:47:00 EST

Joining the world's shortest list of exciting exclusives, Sprint's HTC Hero is available for purchase to Best Buy Reward Zone members only today, two full days before the October 11 street date. You'll need to be a Reward Zone member as of yesterday to participate, but if no Best Buy clerk has already hard-sold you a Reward Zone card during a particularly momentous purchase of yours, you're clearly not one to be swayed by petty early purchase options anyway.

[Thanks, Ted]

Filed under: Handsets, HTC, Sprint

Sprint HTC Hero available today to Best Buy Reward Zone members originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint HTC Hero available today to Best Buy Reward Zone members

Paul Miller — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:47:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

Sprint HTC Hero available today to Best Buy Reward Zone members originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Anxious Sprint users ordering HTC Hero now through telesales

Darren Murph — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:08:00 EST

Too impatient to wait for October 11th to arrive? Yeah, we feel you. If you're up with killing a few minutes and dealing with what may end up being four or five CSRs, word on the street has it that the Android-powered Hero can be ordered this very moment via Sprint telesales. A number of members over at Sprint Users have had success in getting the phone headed their way, and one even mentioned that his SERO plan was set to remain firmly in place even with this new phone on the bill. Let us know if you stumble across similar luck in comments below, won't you?

[Thanks, JayTV]

Filed under: Handsets, HTC, Sprint, EV-DO, CDMA, Android

Anxious Sprint users ordering HTC Hero now through telesales originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Anxious Sprint users ordering HTC Hero now through telesales

Darren Murph — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:08:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

Anxious Sprint users ordering HTC Hero now through telesales originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint Hero spied in a cold-looking retail setting

Chris Ziegler — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:19:00 EST

Most of us have a couple weeks to wait yet before strolling into our friendly local Sprint outlet for a Hero purchase, but it turns out that specially-trained employees are already receiving their phones so they know what's what by the time customers are ready to buy. That, of course, inevitably leads to leaks -- like this one, for example. Click through for a couple more shots.

[Thanks, supamanasteel]

Continue reading Sprint Hero spied in a cold-looking retail setting

Filed under: Handsets, HTC, Sprint, EV-DO, CDMA, Android

Sprint Hero spied in a cold-looking retail setting originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget Podcast 163 - 09.20.2009

Trent Wolbe — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 16:27:00 EST

We're a couple days late, but the podcast is back, people. Join Josh, Paul, and Nilay as they run down another hectic week in news, including the Zune HD, some hands-on impressions of the Motorola CLIQ, and the latest in the ongoing Apple / Google saga. Get clicking!

P.S.- Josh recorded this on on the road, so he had some audio troubles -- thanks for bearing with us.

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Song: NOISEWAVES - As Days Go By (Family Matters Theme Song)

Hear the podcast

00:03:00 - Google says Phil Schiller himself rejected Google Voice from the App Store
00:13:35 - Zune HD review
00:37:50 - Archos 5 Internet Tablet makes an honest PMP out of Android
00:44:04 - HP's new DreamScreens pack Pandora and Facebook into a wireless photo frame
00:50:00 - HP ENVY 13 and 15 bring luxury to the everyman, look like MacBooks
00:59:39 - HTC Hero for Sprint hands-on and impressions
01:04:05 - Motorola CLIQ

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Twitter: @joshuatopolsky @futurepaul @reckless @engadget

Filed under: Podcasts

Engadget Podcast 163 - 09.20.2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Sep 2009 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Hero for Sprint hands-on and impressions

Joshua Topolsky — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:01:00 EST

When we first caught wind of HTC's Hero coming to Sprint, we were more than a little hopeful that the issues we experienced with the European version would be alleviated. If you'll recall, we had a bit of a love-hate affair going on with the chinny, wine-drinking iteration of the Android-powered phone due to a seeming lack of horsepower required to push HTC's totally amazing Sense UI. In the last few weeks, we've heard lots of chatter about the forthcoming Hero update and the wonders it would do for the speed of this phone... but unfortunately there's no such luck in the US, CDMA version of this device.

So, the point here is we were planning on doing a whole new review to showcase the differences between the old and new version of the Hero, but there really aren't any besides the obvious physical changes. Sprint has added some great new apps, like its visual voicemail, which works like a charm (oh by the way Coleen, you got that job -- maybe you should give them your new number too), and Sprint Navigation, though it's also muddied up the mix by including the yawn-maker NASCAR app. Of course, this phone provides a full-on 3G experience, unlike the European version (for obvious reasons), and Sprint's network seems as snappy as ever -- general web browsing was a noticeably more enjoyable experience, for instance.

Here is what we can say about the phone: the industrial design of this version versus the older model is a marked improvement, chucking that awkward chin shape for a proper bottom half, and rearranging the hard buttons so that you're not constantly getting your hands cramped up. We also have to mention the trackball, which is the most comfortable we've ever used. While the performance is still not where we think it should be, the Hero is an awesome addition to Sprint's growing line of serious contenders in the smartphone game. If that new update is all it's supposed to be (and if Sprint is expedient in bringing it to market), many of our complaints should be quelled -- and this will be the killer device we know it can be.

Update: To commenters asking for a longer review, or asking about discrepancies in our findings versus other sites -- we can only report on what we observed. In our eyes, there is nothing significantly different or improved about the Sprint version to warrant a second review. There are some very minor differences in camera quality, and obviously the network performance is better (since it's not EDGE), but a full-length review did not seem necessary (you'll note many of our contemporaries also have short-form reviews). While reports may differ (especially those stating that this phone has the updated ROM we've heard about), we're still seeing the same kind of sluggishness and slowdown we experienced with the European version. What we said in the original Hero review very much applies to the Sprint version, and we suggest you take a peek.

Gallery: HTC Hero for Sprint hands-on

Filed under: Handsets, Features, HTC, Sprint, EV-DO, CDMA, Android

HTC Hero for Sprint hands-on and impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Hero for Sprint hands-on and impressions

Joshua Topolsky — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:01:00 EST

Gallery: HTC Hero for Sprint hands-on

Filed under: Cellphones

HTC Hero for Sprint hands-on and impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android Battle: CLIQ edition

Ross Miller — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:00:00 EST

	CLIQ	Galaxy	Tattoo	Hero	Magic / MT3G	Dream / G1
Carrier	T-Mobile	-- (GSM / HSDPA)	-- (GSM / EDGE)	Sprint	T-Mobile	T-Mobile
Manuf.	Motorola	Samsung	HTC	HTC	HTC	HTC
Price	--	--	--	$179.99	$99.99	$149.99
Released	--	July 2009	--	Oct 11, 2009	Aug 5, 2009	Oct 22, 2008
Keyboard	Slide-out	Virtual	Virtual	Virtual	Virtual	Slide-out
Android	MOTOBLUR	Standard	Sense UI	Sense UI	Standard	Standard
Processor	528MHz MSM7201A	528MHz ARM11	528MHz MSM7225	528MHz MSM7201A	528MHz MSM7201A	528MHz MSM7201A
Screen	3.1-inch (est.), 320 x 480	3.2-inch, 320 x 480	2.8-inch, 240 x 320	3.2-inch, 320 x 480	3.2-inch, 320 x 480	3.2-inch, 480 x 320
Headphone	3.5mm	3.5mm	3.5mm	3.5mm	ExtUSB	ExtUSB
Touchscreen	Capacitive	Capacitive	Resistive	Capacitive	Capacitive	Capacitive
Still Camera	5MP with AF	5MP with Flash	3.2MP	5MP with AF	3.2MP with AF	3.2MP with AF
Bluetooth	2.0	2.1	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0
Exchange	ActiveSync	ActiveSync	--	ActiveSync	Depends on version	Depends on version
Storage	256MB, microSD	8GB, microSD	512MB, microSD	512MB, microSD	512MB, microSD	256MB, microSD
Battery	1400mAh	1500mAh	1100mAh	1500 mAh	1340 mAh	1150 mAh
Weight	163g	114g	113g	135g	116g	158g

It's been over 11 months since the Android first hit the scene with HTC's T-Mobile G1, and in that time we've come to the conclusion that, despite having more or less a clean slate on industrial design choices and specs, little progress has been made in the way of variation. Stacked up side-to-side, Motorola CLIQ manages to stand out with a slide-out keyboard and MOTOBLUR skin, but under the hood, it's pretty much as uniform as a netbook. Peruse for yourself in the chart above.

Filed under: Handsets, HTC, Motorola, Samsung, Sprint, T-Mobile, Android

Android Battle: CLIQ edition originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pandora comes to Android, world's networks that much closer to buckling

Chris Ziegler — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 04:08:00 EST

As must-have mobile apps go, Pandora ranks high on the books -- with the proliferation of 3G and WiFi, it comes dangerously close to obsoleting the need to carry around your own 8, 16, or 32GB worth of tracks -- and another big-ticket platform has now joined the compatibility short list. This time around it's Android that's getting hooked up, offering a home screen widget and background playback (we'd expect no less on Android) over whatever type of network connection you've got handy. Using Wham! as a station seed is still indefensible, but we'd say the argument for scooping up a G1, myTouch 3G, or Sprint Hero (when it's available, anyhow) just got a bit stronger.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds, Portable Audio

Pandora comes to Android, world's networks that much closer to buckling originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 04:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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